Talk about exciting -- 6-4 Chargers as good as it gets

Never before has it been seen, or at least in recent memory. A 6-4 team that has looked so gosh-darn good throughout their first 10 games, yet only with six wins to show for it. The Chargers very easily could be sitting atop the undefeated perch with the Colts after 10 games considering that they’ve held fourth-quarter leads in all four of their losses, which have come by a combined 12 points. A late goal-line stand by Dallas. Last-second field goals by Denver and Pittsburgh. A blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Philadelphia. In their wins, they’ve looked downright awesome. They blew out the Giants and Patriots in consecutive weeks to the tune of 86-40, easily handled the Raiders, got three touchdowns by Antonio Gates against Kansas City, used a goal-line stand of their own against the Jets, then trashed Buffalo, 48-10. Whew. Certainly, with all the tough teams they’ve faced already, their schedule must get easier, right? Eh...not really. Their remaining road games send them to Washington, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. They also get a Week 17 visit from Denver. If San Diego can reach 10-6, it’d be nothing short of amazing.
We all know about the offense. It’s the defense that must stay poised. San Diego has been stout against the run this year, something they will need to continue against a fierce schedule. Meanwhile, come playoffs, assuming the Chargers are there, they are dangerous. New England? No problem. Chargers manhandled them 41-17. Denver? Tough. But the Chargers certainly outplayed them in their first meeting in Week 2, a 20-17 last-second Denver win. The Steelers? Also tough, and the Chargers took them to the wire in Week 5, only to fall, 24-22. The Colts? We’ll see. They meet in Week 15 at the RCA Dome. All in all, the Chargers mean business, something we haven’t really been able to say since the mid-90's. But Marty-ball is back, and so is a level excitement in Southern California for the Bolts.